Garden-tool or the like.



F. REESE.

GARDEN TOOL OR THE LIKE.

AP L l HLED MAY18 1915. 1,1 98,767. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

m a 2 /l 3 3 A e 2%.? qy 7 7 w FRED REESE, OF EUTAW, ALABAMA.

GARDEN-TOOL ORQTI-IE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Application filed May 18, 1916. Serial No. 98,368. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED REnsE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eutaw, in the county of Greene and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Garden-Tool or the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garden tools'or the like, one of its objects being to provide means whereby the ground engaging portion of the tool can be held at a predetermined angle relative to the handle, thus to adapt the device for use by persons of different heights.

A further object is to provide an adjustable connecting means which is simple in construction, can be easily shifted, and will not become readily displaced.

IVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a section through the adjustable connection particularly designed for use in connection with a hoe. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the wedge used in connection therewith. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing a modified form of adjustable connection. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the holding plate shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 3 and showing another modified form of device. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the bar used in the structure shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a portion of a handle in which is seated a stem 2 projecting at an angle from a sleeve 3 which is rectangular in cross section but has its walls converging downwardly. Thus a tapered opening 4 is formed within the sleeve. The side walls of the opening are provided, at their upper edges, with spaced notches 5 and 6.

The soil engaging device used in oonnection with the handle in the present case is v a hoe 7 from which extends a screw threaded stem 8 designed to project through the sleeve 3. The diameter of the stem is preferably equal to the distance between the inner surface of one wall of the sleeve and the notch remote therefrom. As the passage 4 within the sleeve is tapered, it will be obvious that the stem 8 can be swung therein, thus to vary the angle of-the hoe relative to the stem 2. For the purpose of holding the hoe in either of two positions relative to the stem, a wedge 9 may be used. This wedge is adapted to be inserted between the stem 8 and either the front or the back wall of the sleeve and be pressed tightly into position by a nut 10 engaging the threaded portion of the stem 8. In Fig. 1 the wedge has been shown placed between the outer wall of the sleeve and the stem 8, thus to hold the hoe almost at right angles to the stem 2. Obviously by placing the wedge between the inner wall of the sleeve 3 and the stem 8, the hoe and the stem 2 will form a more acute angle, thus adapting the device for use by shorter persons.

llcan be placed on the upper end of the sleeve 3, this plate having terminal lips 12 for engaging the front and back walls of the sleeve. An opening 13 is formed in the plate near one end. By placing this plate on the sleeve with the opening near the inner wall of the sleeve, the stem 8 of the hoe can be held in the position shown in Fig. 3. However, by reversing the position of the plate 11 the stem 8 can be held against the outer wall of the sleeve 3. In either case the plate 11 will be held securely in position by the nut 10.

Another means for holding the hoe in either of the two positions, has been illustrated in Fig. 6. In this figure the stem 8 is held against swinging movement by a bar 14 designed to be seated in the notches 6, said bar having terminal lugs depending therefrom for engaging the side walls of the sleeve. The nut 10 will hold the bar against displacement. By removing bar 6 and shifting the stem 8 to its other position, said bar can be placed in the notches 5.

While a hoe has been shown connected to the sleeve 3, it is to be understood that other tools can be substituted therefor, it merely being necessary that each of them be pro Instead of providing the wedge 9, a plate v vided with a threaded stem corresponding with the stem 8. v

By mounting 'a hoe in the manner described, the same can be reversed so that it will thus become self sharpening.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a handle engaging member and a tapered angular sleeve at one end thereof, of a ground engaging tool, a threaded stem projecting therefrom and through the sleeve, said stem being adapted to shift angularly within the sleeve, a nut engaging the stem, and means engaged by the nut and engaging the sleeve for holding the stem against angular movement within the sleeve.

2. The combination with a tapered angular sleeve and means extending therefrom for engaging a handle, of a soil engaging device, a threaded stem projecting therefrom and through the sleeve, said stem being shiftable angularly within the sleeve, a member hearing upon the sleeve and engaging the stem to hold the stem against angular movement within the sleeve, depending portions upon said member for engaglng opposed walls of the sleeve, and means ad ustably engaging the stem for binding said member upon the sleeve.

3. The combination with a tapered angular sleeve having spaced notches in opposed walls thereof, and handle engaging means extending from the sleeve, of a soil engaging device, a stem projecting therefrom, a bar insertibleinto opposed notches for holding the stem against angular movement, depending means upon the bar for engaging opposed walls of the sleeve, and means ad- Copies of this patent may be obtained (or five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of l'ateuts.

Washingtom D. 0. r 

